Rence Padrigao, a 5-foot-11 guard, is set to join twin-towers Geo Chiu and Kai Sotto in the Ateneo Blue Eaglets lineup. Dante Peralta

ADAMSON's basketball program was dealt a blow after one of its emerging juniors players, Rence Padrigao, left the Baby Falcons to play for the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, sources told SPIN.ph.

Although he only averaged 5.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 steals for the Baby Falcons in Season 79, Padrigao was seen as one of the most promising players of the Baby Falcons who was expected to eventually take over the team.

Padrigao’s potential, however, has not gone unnoticed as he was invited to take part in the tryouts of the Batang Gilas team being formed for the 2017 Seaba Under-16 Championship in Manila.

The 5-foot-11 point guard is just the latest piece added to a rebuilding Blue Eaglets side that recently got a commitment from 6-foot-7 Geo Chiu of Pace Academy to team up with 14-year-old prodigy Kai Sotto in a towering frontline.

Ateneo has been beefing up its roster for the UAAP. One of their new players is , who is set to team up with 14-year-old Kai Sotto.

Padrigao, 15, was also one of the key pieces in Adamson’s title run in the Passerelle division of the BEST Center league in 2015.

The transfer is just the latest blow for the Baby Falcons, who are still trying to pick up the pieces after their 11 victories in UAAP Season 79 were forfeited following the decision to declare Encho Serrano ineligible.

Sources added Adamson has yet to sign head coach Goldwin Monteverde to a fresh deal after his contract expired at the end of last season.

The uncertainty over Monteverde’s status and Padrigao's transfer come just weeks before the Baby Falcons' campaign in the Filoil preseason tournament that is scheduled to begin at the end of the month.